The
first episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a new series starring Lucy
Lawless that tells the story of the legendary rebel Roman slave,
finished shooting this week in New Zealand, and those involved say it
includes graphic sex and violence unlike anything ever seen on
television.

"[The network] has given us quite a bit of rope with
which to hang ourselves," says Rob Tapert, the co-creator of Xena:
Warrior Princess who is executive producing along with Joshua Donen and
Spiderman's Sam Raimi. "It's unlike anything we've done before, because
it is very hard and very explicit. It's harder than 300," he says,
referring to Zack Synder's explicit 2006 movie adaptation of the
graphic novel.

Rob also says that the show will have gay characters (male and female).

Starz Entertainment has created an official forum for Spartacus. Not
much going on at the moment, just an official press release about the
casting. You can subscribe and join in the fun when the show starts in
2010.

SPARTACUS - The deafening roar of the crowd. A piercing thrust of the sword. Destined for great unfortunate things.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 09:
Actors Andy Whitfield and Erin Cummings of 'Spartacus' arrive on the
red carpet for the Premier of 'Star Trek' at Sky City Cinemas on April
9, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images):

His character is a doomed gladiator called Kerza and Hawera-born actor Karl Drinkwater is using him to make it in Hollywood.

Spartacus
is the latest mythical action TV show to be filmed in New Zealand,
following in the footsteps of the hugely popular Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess productions of the 1990s.

It
is loosely based on the story of Spartacus, the Thracian man who
supposedly led a slave revolt against the toga-wearing Romans about
100BC.

The production will bring New Zealand's favourite action
woman Lucy Lawless back to the screen and this time Drinkwater too, a
Taranaki lad now based in Auckland.

For Drinkwater the involvement in the big budget American production is a chance to take his career to the international stage.